Biopolymer-based nesting material for sows and its consequence on nest-building behavior, farrowing kinetics and piglet vitality (2025)

Monteiro, M. S., Muro, B. B. D., Nicolino, M. V. B. et al.

Abstract

In the present study, we evaluated the effects of a soluble and biodegradable biopolymer-based material, structurally resembling natural fiber, as an alternative nesting-material for prepartum gilts. A total of 18 first parity sows and their litters were studied. One hour after induction of farrowing, sows were assigned at random into two experimental groups: sows without nesting material (CON, n = 9), serving as controls, and sows provided with 3.0 kg of a biopolymer-based nesting-material 24 h before the expected date of farrowing (BN, n = 9). In the prepartum period (18 h before farrowing), a lower (p = 0.016) percentage of postural changes were observed for BN sows. Moreover, BN sows performed more nesting-building behavior (p < 0.001) and had reduced redirected nest-building behaviors (p < 0.001). Sows in the CON group spent more time performing redirected nest-building behavior during farrowing than BN sows (12.5 % vs 3.9 %, p = 0.005). Sows in the BN group had shorter farrowing duration compared to CON sows (277 min vs 198 min, p = 0.025). The number of total piglets born, piglets born alive, and stillborn did not differ among groups (p > 0.05). Piglets in the BN group had higher blood pH (7.36 vs 7.34, p = 0.029), higher blood glucose (36.11 vs 29.45, p = 0.046) and lower blood lactate concentrations (3.33 vs 3.88, p = 0.035). Piglet mortality in the first 24 h and during the remaining lactation period were not different (p > 0.05) among experimental groups. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that providing a biopolymer-based nesting-material for prepartum sows, structurally resembling natural fibers, was effective in facilitating the expression of nest-building behavior, resulting in improved farrowing performance and piglets blood gas parameters.